Nick Kuman

Kuman said, following the recent launch of the National Library, Archives and Records Services 10 Year Strategic Plan 2016-2025, library and archives provides a source to store knowledge.

He said this knowledge can be retrieved in the future for education and other use.

Kuman highlighted that in the past, Papua New Guineans basically depended on the memory to remember everything that has happened in the past.

Minister for Education Nick Kuman admitted that the Government has failed miserably in this area.

The National Libraries, Archives Records (NLAR) is one of the three entities under the Ministry of Education and plays an important function in the education system.

Kuman said a lot of statistics available in the country many years ago have not been put together in a centralized place for the use in the future.

Kuman said the Government will ensure that there is proper coordination at all levels following the recent launch of the National Library, Archives and Records Services 10 Year Strategic Plan 2016-2025.

The new structure will drive NLAR’s 10-Year Strategic Plan 2016-2025 forward in achieving its vision, mission and goals.

The strategic plan was officially launched by Minister for Education Nick Kuman yesterday in Port Moresby.

It aims to deliver sustainable, accessible, fair, equal and quality library and archives services to the people according to the National Library and Archives Act 1993.

The strategic plan was officially launched by Minister for Education Nick Kuman today in Port Moresby. 

It aims to deliver sustainable, accessible, fair, equal and quality library and archives services to the people according to the National Library and Archives Act 1993.

This plan paves the way for the establishment of the provincial librarian and archivist in the provinces to provide services to the people with only six public libraries operating in the country.

The implementation of the strategic plan will cost K54,500,000.

The Government, through National Executive Council decision No: 25/2016, in no uncertain terms directed that no fees of any sort relating to student enrolment be imposed upon parents.

Education Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra said in line with the NEC decision, he has issued circular instructions; 2/16 and 2/17 in 2016 and 2017.

Kombra said: “Still, reports are coming in that a number of schools are imposing fees, including withholding certificates to collect so-called outstanding fees from parents. That is uncalled for.

Education Minister Nick Kuman revealed this today in Parliament.

He said the Expenditure Committee has approved the funding last week and released the money.

“When it hits the banks, all the school accounts will be credited across the country.

“We have not failed in any year in paying the school fees in this country.”

Kuman said the Government has retired every TFF commitment in the country.

Kuman was responding to a supplementary question from Sinasina Yonguml MP Kerenga Kua during the Question Without Notice this morning.

Kuman was responding to Okapa MP Isaac Waigavara during the Questions without Notice today in Parliament.

Waigavara asked the Education Minister to clarify the fees that were being imposed by schools which make parents confused before the beginning of the academic year.

However, Kuman in response said the Government had advice all the headmasters and principles of all the schools across the country that no fees must be collected from the students because the government is paying for all the fees.

In a media statement yesterday Kuman said the policy was now set for implementation this year.

The Minister said the School Registration Policy and procedures was developed because the Department of Education has seen an increase in schools being established by the education authorities or interest groups in an unplanned and unregulated manner.

These schools have enrolled students and engaged teachers, without due regard of the consequences affecting innocent students and teachers.

In the letter, Kuman was asked to direct the National Department of Education (NDOE) to immediately release all outstanding tuition fee free (TFF) education funds destined for Yebi high school for term one and two of 2016 school year.

On May 16 2016, after learning of the dire financial situation faced by Yebi high school, Awesa convened an urgent meeting between the former and current principals to resolve outstanding issues to restore normalcy at the school.